NAIL FUNGUS

Other risk factors are: walking barefoot in warm moist areas such as swimming pools, wearing socks and shoes that make your feet perspire, a small untreated injury to the toenail or nailbed, circulation problems – especially those associated with diabetes, and having a weakened immune system. Men are more likely to get onychomycosis than women, and a family history of nail fungus also increases the risk. There are various different treatments available and even though they are effective when used correctly, there are several disadvantages connected with their administration.

Elderly male pharmacy customer: Hello, do you speak English?
PTA: Hello. Yes, I do. What can I do for you?

I am afraid that I have a fungal infection in some of my toenails.
Oh, I see! How many nails are affected?

About half of each of my big toenails, and one of the smaller ones. They don’t look nice. I’m too embarrassed to go swimming or to the sauna.
There are a few different types of treatment available for nail fungus.

I’ll take one of those magic creams that you have.
Well, I wouldn’t really recommend a cream.

Vocabulary
Nail Fungus Nagelpilz
widespread verbreitet
toenails Zehennägel
moist feucht
perspire schwitzen
untreated unbehandelt
injury Verletzung
circulation Durchblutung
weakened geschwächt
disadvantage Nachteil
administration Anwendung
I am afraid ich befürchte
affected betroffen
embarrassed verlegen, beschämt
choose wählen
urea-based auf Harnstoff-Basis
varnish (Nagel)Lack
dissolved aufgelöst
laborious mühselig
antifungal antimykotisch
permeate eindringen

Why not? Nail fungus is often found in the deeper layers of the nail and in the skin. Cream won’t help if it is only applied on the surface.?

Okay! So you said that there were a few treatments, didn’t you?
We have three different types. I’ll tell you about them so that you can choose the one that is best for you.

Good. Please, continue.
This first one here is a urea-based nail varnish. You apply it to the affected nail, which is then dissolved.

That sounds good!
Yes, but the disadvantage is that it is quite laborious to apply. And nails take very long to grow back.

I see.
This is a water-resistant antifungal varnish. You are not a diabetic, are you?

No, thank goodness I’m not. Why?
You have to file the nail every time before you apply it. And that could lead to cuts. Not good for diabetics! Also when you file the nails, particles fall off that are infectious, which could affect other family members.

I don’t think I could use it any- way, as I have trouble bending and I have osteoarthritis in my hands. This makes it difficult to do any fine work such as filing.
Okay. This one here is a water soluble antifungal varnish. The active ingredient can permeate deep into the nail. You don’t need to file and the nail isn’t dissolved. And you can see the healthy nail re-growing.

I think I’ll take the last one. How often do I have to use it?
You paint it on the affected nails and the skin around them every evening before going to bed. Then wash off the excess in the morning under the shower. It’s a good idea to have the bottle next to the bed so that you don’t forget to apply the varnish. It does take time, but if you are patient, it will certainly help.

Thank you very much for your help and patience.
You are welcome. Goodbye.

Goodbye. 

Den Artikel finden Sie auch in die PTA IN DER APOTHEKE 05/17 auf Seite 124.


Catherine Croghan, Lecturer in English and native speaker